Although I missed yesterday, I wanted to do one last Attitude of Gratitude Post on Thanksgiving Day. Looking back over my list from the month, I can't help but feel overwhelmed at the amount of things I have to be thankful for. Some were silly, some were serious, but never did I list every single thing that I had to be thankful for that day. A dear friend said that she is thankful that she has so many things to be thankful for and that is just how I feel!
Even in spite of all the things that happened in the past month, I am so blessed - I have an amazing husband who takes care of me; wonderful children who bless me with smiles, help, hugs, conversation, etc.; health; shelter; provision; family; friends; church family; a relationship with God full of promises. And those are just to name a few. Thank you for those of you who went on this journey with me - I had fun and pray that you did too and that you were blessed. Here is something I read to help you feel better about the trip we just made:
Some researchers found that grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, more satisfaction with life, and more vitality and optimism. All good qualities I want more of in my life. They also found grateful people show lower levels of depression and stress - two things I'd like to experience less in my life.
What's more, they found that people who write weekly in a journal about things they are thankful for are healthier. They exercise more regularly, report fewer physical symptoms, and feel better in general than people who journal about neutral or negative life events. That sounds great, and I'll take all the help I can get in the exercise department.
Finally, the research showed that people who daily count their blessings report higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, and energy.
Wow, the benefits of being grateful are remarkable and many! I guess that shouldn't surprise us when we realize that it is what God tells us to do in the first place! Maybe that's why we enter His gates with Thanksgiving - we are less depressed, healthier and have more energy making it easier to enter His presence! He really does know what He is talking about, His word is true and His promises are sure.
On a final note that I had to put in, have you ever read George Washington's Thanksgiving proclamation? It tells much of where our country came from and, though I don't want to get into politics, it is so meaningful that I had to share some of it.
"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789."
Hmmm... I'll just leave that for you to consider.
I pray that your Thanksgiving was truly wonderful, blessed indeed and filled with good things and those you love. As we go into the season of celebrating His birth, don't forget to continue to give thanks in all things, at all times!
"Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." Colossians 2:7
